Early next month five Birmingham building workers will be appearing in the Crown Court as a result of their action earlier this year in occupying the offices of one of that city's most notorious Jump" labour contractors. This step was taken in order to obtain informatiot about the extent of "lump' operations in Birmingham, and was part of a city-wide antilump campaign organised by the building workers union, UCATT.
CONSPIRACY TO TRESPASS An important feature of this trial is the charge of 'conspiracy to trespass' which has been levelled against these militants, This represents a dangerous extension of the use of the conspi racy laws against trade unconists.
Trespass" is not in itself a criminal offence it is simply a civil wrong, for which someone could be sued for compensation if he actually caused damage or inconvenience in the course of trespassing. However, one of the little-known